Sunday, March 28, 2010

Is the Jar Full?

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle.

When 24 hours in a day is not enough. Remember the big jam jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

With out speaking he picked up the big jam jar and start to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They all agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar. Effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life..

The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full..

The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else -- The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.

'Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Please share this with other "Golf Balls" I just did..

I received this from a friend of ours, Tom

10 comments:

Merle said...

Dear Patty ~~ I have read and enjoyed all the posts I missed. They were all good as usual. I liked the fun facts for every state and the jokes etc.
Thank you for your comments on my long time ago storm post. I am so glad that the Prednisone helped you
when you had breathing problems. I am relieved that my heart is OK and we are working now on the lungs. I had a ct scan on them and get results tomorrow. Dr. spoke of a lung specialist, so see what tomorrow brings. I hope all is well with you and your family and
that Spring is showing up for you.
I was lost without the internet
for over a week. But it is good to be back. Take care, my friend,
Love, Merle.

Tom said...

I'm so glad you liked this one Patty... when I got it I thought of you first... xx

Clytie said...

So true. Sometimes we all need to remember the golf balls of our lives! And there is indeed, always time for coffee with a friend. I'm drinking coffee right now, and am thoroughly enjoying my coffee break with you!

Cheryl said...

This is wonderful! A good reminder indeed of what is really important to ones life.

Femin Susan said...

This post reveals such a wonderful message.The golf balls, pebbles, sand and coffee all represents things that take place in our lives.
Cheers :D!

Sister--Helen said...

I have never read this one...I loved it...

Charles said...

Thanks for posting this. I had read it before, but had forgot it. It is a good teaching lesson.

dyanna said...

This is really true. We all have something to learns from this. Thank you for this post.

Margaret Cloud said...

Very nice post, I guess we should remember the important things in life.

Beth Niquette said...

Well.

Here I am.

Tears in my eyes.

Thank you.